Europe is preparing countermeasures against US President Donald Trump's "blackmail", after threatening to impose additional tariffs on several countries for opposing his plan for Greenland, the German Vice Chancellor said on Monday.
"We will not allow ourselves to be squeezed," Lars Klingbeil said at a press conference in Berlin with French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (19/1).
"Europe will respond with a united and clear response, and we are now preparing joint countermeasures with our European partners," he continued.
Earlier, President Trump on Saturday said he would impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on a number of European countries - including Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory - unless Greenland was handed over to the Uncle Sam.
Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have responded to the threat in a joint statement at the weekend.
Klingbeil said Europe's response could have three main tracks.
"First, the current tariff agreement with the United States will be suspended," he said.
Second, European tariffs on imports from the United States, which are currently suspended until early February, could be imposed, said Klingbeil, who is also German Finance Minister.
And third, the EU must consider using various instruments that can be used to respond to "economic blackmail" against Washington, he added.
Minister Lescure agreed with Minister Klingbeil that President Trump's threats amounted to "blackmail."
"Blackmail between allies for 250 years, blackmail between friends, is clearly unacceptable," the French minister said.
"We Europeans must remain united and coordinated in our response and, most importantly, ready to make full use of the instruments" of the European Union, he said.
"We are determined to defend our sovereignty."
Minister Lescure said the G7 finance ministers' meeting would be held in the coming days to discuss urgent issues, including Greenland. France currently holds the chairmanship of the group, and the United States is one of its members.
Minister Klingbeil stressed, "the limit has been reached" in terms of the US leader making threats.
"We are constantly experiencing new confrontations that President Trump is trying to do," he said.
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